Morning habits of those living beyond 100
Here is everything you need to know about how people who live to see their 100th birthday spend their mornings.
These habits are obtained through the research of Dan Buettner, author and explorer who pioneered research on longevity hotspots or the Blue Zones (Ikaria, Greece; Loma Linda, California; Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; and Nicoya, Costa Rica), according to Well+Good.
These habits are incredibly simple and beautiful. Here are a few of them that you too can incorporate to kick start your day.
Find your 'ikigai'
The Japanese concept 'ikigai' roughly translates to the purpose of your being. Knowing your ikigai, or being on a journey to find it, is linked to longevity, according to the Blue Zones. It literally gives you a reason to get out of bed in the morning as you age.
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Once you find your ikigai, hold on right to it, and remind yourself to focus on your higher purpose or drive, rather than simply getting caught in the rush of daily life.
Don't skip a healthy breakfast
A healthy diet is an important part of becoming a centenarian.
Dan Buettner shared the secret of a 105-year-old woman, living in Loma Linda, California, who swears by starting her day with a bowl of slow-cooked oatmeal. She tops it with fiber-friendly dates, wholesome walnuts, and a splash of protein-packed soy milk. She follows each bowl with a "prune juice shooter" that helps to get things moving while reducing blood pressure and cholesterol, Well+Good reported.
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Enjoy a cup of morning coffee
Your morning cup of coffee may help you sail through a longer life, considering the habits of people in the Blue Zones. Tea works equally well. "[People in these areas] drink up to two or three cups of black coffee per day," according to Buettner's findings. However, make sure you either take it black or only add a splash of milk or a teaspoon of sugar. No heavy lattes or sugar loaded coffee.
"To really Blue Zones your coffee or tea routine, make coffee or afternoon tea dates with friends or family to chat, laugh, and get that face-to-face time that’s so important to health and happiness," the findings add.
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Say something nice to the first person you see
This is a tip from Buettner's morning routine, most likely picked from his Blue Zones research.
"Say something nice to the first person we meet," he wrote. "A Harvard study shows that behaviors are contagious so if you do it to your neighbor, it’s likely to come back to you." Cultivating a healthy social life can lead to happier, longer lives.
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Afternoon habits of longest living people
In further findings, Robert Agnello, DO, assistant professor of family medicine at Campbell University, who has studied the Blue Zones, also shared the afternoon habits of the longest living people. These include prioritizing purpose, not productivity; taking time out to eat lunch with others; making time to move; making time to socialize; and recharging with a nap.
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